A man deliberately drove into a street crowded with pedestrians in Australia's second-largest city, killing at least three people and injuring 20 others.

Police said the incident in Melbourne on Friday had no links to terrorism.

The chaos began in the early afternoon, after a man was seen driving in erratic circles in the middle of a major junction in the centre of the city, before he turned on to the Bourke Street Mall, a pedestrian-only road.

He deliberately collided with pedestrians before continuing on to a pavement and hitting several other people, Victoria state Police Acting Commander Stuart Bateson said.

The man was arrested at the scene and there was no further threat to the public, Mr Bateson said.

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Police believe the incident is connected to a stabbing that had occurred in the city earlier in the day.

The incident comes amid global concern over extremists using vehicles to strike crowds, following truck attacks in Berlin and Nice, France last year.

Mr Bateson said the Melbourne incident had no links to terrorism.

Police and emergency services gather at the scene after a car is believed to have hit pedestrians in Bourke Street Mall in Melbourne, Australia, Friday, Jan. 20, 2017. Several pedestrians were injured after being struck by a car in Australia's second-largest city on Friday, prompting a major police operation as officials told the public to stay away from the area.